New York Yankees shortstop Dean Anna (93) is congratulated by manager Joe Girardi (28) after he scored a run during the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

BRADENTON, Fla. – Dean Anna said he knows what his first move would be if he makes the Yankees' Opening Day roster.

He'd call his father, also named Dean, who carted him to youth travel baseball games throughout Illinois and still keeps close tabs on his 27-year-old infielder.

"He would kill me if I didn't call him," Anna said Thursday after a 4-2 win over the Pirates.

Anna might get a chance to dial his father's number with good news Friday. That's when manager Joe Girardi said he expects to decide who will fill the Yankees' final two bench spots, which are expected to go to infielders.

Anna had never been in a big-league spring training, and he's never played in the majors. A huge year for San Diego's Triple A squad got him on the Yankees' radar, and they traded for him in the offseason, hoping to shore up the infield depth they sorely lacked in 2013.

Anna started the spring competing with three other players — Eduardo Nunez, Scott Sizemore and Yangervis Solarte — for one bench spot, which was expected to go to whoever could be a righty-hitting compliment to lefty-swinging Kelly Johnson in a third base platoon. Sizemore was sent to the minors Wednesday.

Eduardo Nunez appears to be in the lead for that position. But Anna still has a chance. Regular backup shortstop Brendan Ryan, nursing a pinched nerve in his back, will go on the 15-day disabled list to start the season, according to general manager Brian Cashman.

The team will wait until the last day of spring to put Ryan on the DL so they can backdate him 10 days and put him back on the roster as soon as possible.

The bulk of Anna's playing time has come at shortstop in Ryan's absence. Anna's also on the Yankees' 40-man roster. Solarte isn't. For Solarte to take the spot, the Yankees would have to risk possibly losing Anna via waivers by designating him for assignment.

Anna said he's been pleased with his spring so far. He's hit .268 in 41 at-bats.